Motor Sports: RuSport loads up for the future

CLIFF KIRKPATRICK - Staff Writer

Be patient with the many new teams and drivers that fill out the
Champ Car World Series roster this year.

It takes time to develop the winning combination in open-wheel
racing, especially on a primarily road course series. Once the new
generation of drivers establishes itself, Champ Car will again be
one of the most entertaining tours in the world.

A team to watch is RuSport, a two-car effort by Carl Russo.He'll use veteran Michel Jourdain Jr., and rookie A.J. Allendinger,who many consider the next big thing.

RuSport dominated the Atlantic Championship Series last year
with Allendinger, 23, winning the championship and teammate Aaron
Justus, a Rancho Buena Vista High alum, taking second.

Justus was there to tutor Allendinger and prepare him for the
big move to Champ Car. Allendinger already has won the Barber Dodge
Pro Series championship, taken second in the Formula Dodge National
Championship and won the IKF Grand National Championship twice.

Allendinger is ready, and so is the team. While the rival Indy
Racing League was a consideration, Russo decided this is the place
to make a splash.

"It was a long evaluation that we took in looking at where it
was best for RuSport to grow," Russo said. "I think there's really
two reasons. One is the team has its roots in road racing, and so
that's a big determining factor. But the other is really a
business-driven factor. … We believed there's an opportunity to
build a successful and viable business in this paddock. So that's
why we are focused here."

While Allendinger matures on the Champ Car tour, the team will
count on Jourdain, 27, who it recently signed because his previous
team, Team Rahal, left for the IRL. Jourdain didn't want to go to
an all-oval IRL tour.

He already had a major Mexican sponsor committed to him, it was
just what team wanted a driver with all the funding needed to run a
full season. And with someone who's been on the tour for eight
years and is on the verge of a breakthrough season, what team
wouldn't want him?

By hiring Jourdain, RuSport showed that it plans to contend
immediately. The environment is right, and the season starts next
weekend in Long Beach, so we'll see.

"These are very, very competitive teams with some of the best
drivers in the world sitting in this paddock," Russo said. "The
talent this year, in my opinion, is better than it has been in
quite some time. I think it's going to very, very difficult. That
having been said, let me state the long-term goal. We're going to
win races and going to win championships. I think we've got the two
drivers to do both. I'm highly confident that we will achieve
it."

Champ Car contenders

With so many new drivers in the series, there are only a couple
who are true contenders. Here's a look at the top drivers:

Paul Tracy: The Canadian dominated the series last year. He has
the same quality team around him and the desire to stay on
top.

Bruno Junqueira: Has been the best driver the last three years
without winning a title. The Brazilian should be Tracy's toughest
challenge.

Sebastien Bourdais: Last year's rookie of the year will be
improved. He qualified well (five poles), but that didn't carry
through entire races most of the time.

Jimmy Vasser: His last season championship was in 1996, but he
has always been a contender. His experience will carry him while he
figures out how to be an owner, too.

Mario Dominguez: The 2002 rookie of the year was consistent
last season. This could be his time to step to the forefront.

The NASCAR Weekly Racing Series begins at 6:45 tonight at Cajon
Speedway and runs through Oct. 9. The usual sportsman, street,
pony, bomber and Grand American modified classes are the mainstays,
with few special events mixed in.

Defending sportsman champion David Beat returns with Ramona's
John Manke and Ron Overman chasing him. Manke has finished second
the last two years.

Pit passes

Having already convinced Supercross star Ricky Carmichael to
jump from Honda for next season, Team Suzuki is on the verge of
signing Menifee's Chad Reed and possibly James Stewart. If it does,
the manufacturer will have the top three riders on the tour.

Carlsbad's Ron Capps recorded his best NHRA Funny Car
qualifying effort of the season last week in Las Vegas, starting
third. His 324.94 mph on the quarter-mile track was a career best.
His Prudhomme Racing teammate, Tommy Johnson Jr., though, failed to
qualify.

Cory Kruseman won the SCRA season-opener last weekend in
Tulare. The tour makes its debut at Barona Speedway on April
17.